Prevalence and of Paramphistomiasis in Ruminants Slaughtered at Sokoto Central Abattoir, Sokoto

A Survey of prevalence and fluke burden of Paramphistomum sp. was conducted among the major ruminants slaughtered in Sokoto Central Abattoir between May and October, 2007. One hundred (100) of goats, sheep and cattle each were examined for the presence of Paramphistomum species (stomach flukes). Flukes were counted to determine the average fluke burden and prevalence. Out of the 300 animals, a total of 100 (33.3%) were infected with an average fluke burden of 4794. Out of these, 56 (56%) were cattle, with fluke burden of 2517(52.5%}, 32 (32%) were sheep with fluke burden of 1907 (39.8%) and 12 (12%} with fluke burden of 370 (6.7%) were goats. Out of the 100cattle, 20 (20%) males and 36 (36%) females were infected with flukes. Also, out of the 100 sheep, 4 (4%) were males and 28 (28%} were females and in goats, 4 (4%) were males while 8 (8%) were females. On the basis of age the result showed that 4(7.1%) out of the 56 infected animals were those of 1-2 yrs, 40 (71.4%} were 3-4 yrs old and 12 (21.4%) were animals >4 yrs in respect of cattle. Of the 32 infected sheep, 6 (18.7%) were 1-2 yrs, 18(56.2%) were 3-4 yrs and 8(25%) were >4yrs. Similarly, 2(16%) out of the 12 goats infected were 1-2 yrs, 8 (66.6%) were 3-4 yrs old and 2 (16%) were >4 yrs. Paramphistomiasis is prevalent in the area, with female cattle having higher prevalence. Measures forcontrol of these parasites should be prioritized in the study area.Keywords; Prevalence, Paramphistomiasis, Fluke, Burde

Studies on Urinary Schistosomiasis in Selected Villages around Gusau Dam Site, Zamfara State, Nigeria

A study on urinary schistosomiasis was conducted to determine its prevalence and intensity in five villages around Gusau Dam, Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara state. A total of five hundred (500) urinesamples were examined for the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium using standard filtration technique. The overall prevalence was 47%. However, the highest prevalence (65.47%) of the infection was recorded in Bokawa. The mean egg count for the whole study area was 237.94 eggs/10ml of urine. Koramar Gora had comparatively high mean egg count of 330.46 eggs/10ml, than other villages. Prevalence of the infection based on the sources of drinking water has indicated that, those persons who use river (60.00%), pond (50.37%) and dam (46.15%), respectively as their sources of water had higher prevalence than those who use well (38.05%), borehole (19.35%) and others (18.75%) who use tap and packaged water, at Gusau (capital city) during their business. However, a highly significantassociation (x2 = 36.571; df=5; P<0.01) was found between prevalence of infection and source of drinking water. This study revealed that, the study area is endemic for urinary schistosomiasis and there is therefore, the need for government intervention to effectively control the disease in the area.Keywords: Urinary, S. haematobium, Inhabitants, Gusau, Dam Sit

In vitro toxicity effect of Citrus sinensis (Orange) peel extract on two common tick species of cattle in Sokoto

In the current study the acaricidal activity of orange peel extract was studied against engorged Amblyomma (A.) variegatum and R. appendiculatus ticks under laboratory condition. For this purpose, the ticks were exposed to five serial dilutions of the aqueous extract of orange peel (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0%), distilled water and Diazintol® soaked in filter paper, placed in petri dishes with perforated lids and observed for mortality for 72 hours. It was observed that the ticks survived for more than 72 hours in distilled water but did not survive beyond 6 hours in Diazintol® (Standard acaricide), however, the results indicated the activity of orange peel extract to be concentration, time, as well as species dependent. The extract seemed to be more effective (p < 0.05) against R. appendiculatus causing 100% mortality than on A. variegatum with 78.8% killed. The results from this study showed that orange peel extract offers great potentials as an alternative acaricide that is available, cheap and above all, effective in the control of ticks, farmers could easily bath their animals regularly with aqueous extract of the peel.Keywords: ticks, acaricide, Sokoto State, Amblyomma variegatum, DiazintoNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 87-9

A survey on tick species infesting domestic birds sold at Sokoto central market, Nigeria

A Survey on tick species of domestic birds was carried out at Sokoto Market between August and November, 2007. A total of 450 domestic birds, 150 each of chickens, guinea fowls and pigeons were examined for the presence of ticks. Out ofthese 135 (30%) were found infested. 90 (60%) of which were chickens, 45 (30%) were guinea fowls and none of the pigeons were infested. In all 89 ticks were isolated, 61(68%) from chickens and 28(33.3%) from guinea fowls. Out of the 61 ticks identified from chickens 38(62.2%) were of Argas persicus, 20 (32.7%) A.walkerae and 3 (4.9%) were Ornithodoros moubata. Out of the 28 ticks isolated from guinea fowls, 16(57.2%) were A. persicus, 06 (21.4%) A.walkerae, 04 (14.3%) were O. moubata and only 02(7.1%) were O. savignyi. The study on location of ticks isolation revealed that out of the 89 ticks identified, 31(34.8%) were isolated from under the wings, 30 (33.7%) were isolated around the cloacal (vent) region, 28 (31.4%) were isolated from the breast area and none from head or neck region. The study showed that Sokoto area is an endemic area as far as ticks ectoparasites are concerned, with chickens having higher prevalence and A .persicus more common than the other species

Effect of the ethanol extract of Waltheria indica on parasitaemia and glucose level of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats

A study was conducted to determine the effect of Waltheria indica on parasitaemia as well as glucose level of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Waltheria indica dose and time dependently inhibited parasitaemia and extended the life span of the treated rats from 8.5 days of the infected untreated (control) rats to 30.3 days for the infected treated rats. The results also showed the plant extract to significantly improve the weight status of the treated animals beyond those of the untreated which continued to lose weight and died earlier. Treatment with the plant extract also significantly and dose dependently improved the hypoglycaemic state of the infected animals. It was concluded that plant was able to improve the hypoglycaemic state and weight status of the infected rats by controlling parasite proliferation, making it a possible agent for managing African sleeping sickness. Further studies will be carried out to determine safety, haematological and biochemical effects of the plant. Keywords: parasitaemia, inhibition, glucose, weight, trypanosomosisNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp.79-8

Gender and Age-Specific Prevalence of Urinary Schistosomiasis in selected Villages near a Dam Site in Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Urinary schistosomiasis study was conducted to determine its prevalence and intensity in five villages around Gusau Dam, in Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State. A total of five hundred (500) urine samples were examined for the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium, using standard filtration technique. People within the age group of 10-19 years had the highest prevalence of infection 63.51% and the prevalence decreasing steadily thereafter. Males with a prevalence of 56.41% were significantly more infected than females with a prevalence of 31.38%. Mean egg count for the whole study area was 237.94 eggs/10ml of urine. Koramar Gora had comparatively high egg mean count, 330.46 eggs/10ml, than other villages. The age-specific prevalence showed that age group 10-19 years had the highest egg mean count of 367.06 eggs/10ml. Gender-specific prevalence indicated higher egg mean count 247.57 eggs/10ml in males than in females with 209.22 eggs/10ml. This study revealed that, the study area was endemic for urinary schistosomiasis, higher among males than females and higher among ages of 10-19 years. Therefore, the need for Government intervention to effectively control the disease in the area.Keywords: Age-specific, Urinary Schistosomiasis, filtration technique, Mean egg count, interventionNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 55-5

Community Perception on the Cause of Malaria and Childhood Convulsion Associated with Malaria in Selected Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, Nigeria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Plasmodium is by far the best known of all protozoan parasites, because of the life threatening nature of the disease it causes to both humans and other animals. Fever with convulsion remains an important and one of the commonest emergencies among children in the tropics. The present research was carried out in six Local Government Areas of Zamfara State selected at random, two Local Government Areas (LGAs) from each of the three zones. Questionnaires were administered to 600 (100/LGA) subjects who were asked or assisted to fill them. Out of 600 persons interviewed, majority- 488(81.33%) had correct knowledge of the cause of the malaria, because they associated the disease with mosquito bites. There was highly significant variations between people’s perceptions on the cause of malaria in the study area (x2=634.79; df=10; p>0.01) (Table 1). Out of the 600 persons interviewed on childhood convulsion, majority of them 353(58.83%) associated the symptom with malaria. 247 (41.17%) of the respondents have different views as to the causes ofchildhood convulsion. Health education campaign is necessary to enlighten the general public in the study area about the cause of malaria as well as cause of childhood convulsion associated with malaria towards finding better preventive and control measures against the world number one cause of infant mortality.Key words: Community, perception, malaria, convulsion, Zamfara Stat